spring! and a fantastic weekend.

If you look closely, you will notice that Beau is wearing a t shirt.  This is because he did not graduate, and actually, I didn't either. The only reason I would want to walk is for the photo op- and so we took care of that by borrowing a couple friend's attire for a few minutes to create some false memories.

In actuality, I have one class left (an independent study class) and Beau has one more semester.

I have a life goal to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, a 2,000 mile trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. (Read all about that here). We were going to take a two week long trip in August to cover a section, but after seeing ticket prices to VA ($500 for one round trip ticket!) we thought it might be a better idea to backpack somewhere around here, and buy some equipment rather than borrow from my parents. Saturday, we went to a local outdoors shop and REI to get some information about equipment and figure out what things we were going to purchase. 

In the afternoon we did a little day hike in Rock Canyon, something we will go back to do when all the snow has melted and we can get up to Squaw Peak.

Bright and sunny, yet several feet of snow on the ground. In some places where Beau walked, his foot fell through snow past his knee.


That night, a bunch of Beau's freshman friends got together for a little park BBQ.

I am loving this warm weather and no school! Now I get to start the really fun process of finding a job...

taxes, yogurt, and basketball.

Where have we been? I wish I could report some cool stuff we've been doing, like doing triathlons or getting awesome summer internships or at least finishing starting painting our room, but no. February was just a boring month, and all it got were 2 fake blog posts. March just feels better. Spring is here! I'm riding outside! Beau's going golfing! The semester is ending in four weeks!

Recent accomplishments:
- Finishing taxes. Did everybody know BYU offers a free tax service? The accounting students practice on you. (Don't worry, they check each other.) Room 332 of the Tanner building- check it out. So thanks, Jon, for checking that off our to do list. And thanks Obama, for the return.
- Speaking of government things, Beau is working for the census. There's a call center in Sandy and he answers calls of people with questions. Specifically, Russian people. So, fill out your census, and if you have a question call Beau!
- My interviewing job is just about wrapped up, so I've been working as a secretary in the JFSB for the past few months. I like it. Unfortunately, I knew going into it I could only work there for the semester, so that will be ending at the end of April.
- A few home decor additions, but that will be for a later post.
- I made YOGURT. No joke. Which is really the whole reason why I'm updating the blog today.

So I'm pretty much never buying yogurt again.

The first time I tried it, I failed. Although now that I've researched the techniques of yogurt in the crockpot, I probably could have saved it. The second time, I changed two things: I used whole milk (recommended for first timers) and I wrapped the crockpot better. So now I don't know which change fixed it, although I think it's the latter because I've read that many other people have used low fat.

You can find the recipe on the recipe blog I have with my darling former roommates here.

Annnd the only recent photo I have is of Beau's intramural basketball team after their first round tourney win. Pretty impressive, because the team really isn't all that good.


Don't worry, I cut Beau's hair a couple days later.

bad days in basketball

1. The Nuggets lost to the Jazz

2. Beau hurt his ankle




*note: Neither of these occurrences are very recent. But there seems to be a lack of excitement... both above mentioned wounds are healing nicely.

for the past two years

To Mackenzie
From Beau

southern utah adventure

Dear BYU,

Thanks for sending us on a wonderful trip to lovely St. George last weekend.


I know that the intended purpose was for me to interview some people in Fillmore, Cedar City, Kanab, and St. George about the Placement Program, but we really spent most of our time playing.

We quite enjoyed driving the cute little Prius you gave us to use. We are still trying to figure out how it knows to unlock the door when the keys are in my pocket and my hand is just at the door handle. It is a smart little thing. It doesn't unlock if I wave the key by the handle, only when my hand is just about to grab the handle and the key is nearby. It is also so smart that it locks the door for me when it sees me walking away with the keys. But I'm sure you already know this, because it is your car.

Thank you for paying for our hotels and food, too. We made a rule that we would only go to non-chain restaurants (something I think I will adopt for the rest of my life). Because of you and your fantastic usage of member's tithing, we were able go to fine dining such as Arshel's in Beaver, UT.


We also appreciate you providing me with hours to pay for a GPS system to guide us around foreign territory. Because of it, we were able to find Snow Canyon, Fremont Indian State Park, and the Shade Outlet store.

(That picture ^ was taken standing on here v )

The drive through Zion National Forest was especially beautiful. I though it was funny that we could experience snowy canyons and dry deserts all within a few hours.



So, thanks again, Cecil. This almost compensates for not letting us publish any findings.

Love,

Mackenzie and Beau

what we learned in 2009

- Beau may have a hard time getting to an 8am class on time, but 6am basketball is not a problem.
- Mackenzie is much happier when she is riding regularly.
- Beau is much happier when Mackenzie is riding regularly.
- 30 Rock > The Office
- Latina ladies at California Tortilla see Beau as a pretty cute green card.
- How not to run a business. I don't think I should go any further, because this IS the internets, after all.
- If you're subletting your apartment, change the bills our of your name because the other tenants miiiight not pay their bills.
- Beau is a much better Russian student than engineering.
- Just because you had a calling in nursery in one ward does not make you immune to it in the next.
- You can go until about December 3rd without turning the heat on in your apartment.


I am one week into my last semester at BYU (except for 1 class in the spring- but we won't count that. And maybe more if I want to repeat classes to raise my GPA) and already counting down the days till we can leave Utah. Too bad Beau doesn't graduate until December 2010. Less than a year, right?

I am finishing up the interviews for the Placement Program with a trip to St. George this weekend, and just started a new job as a secretary in the Sociology department. The highlight of my day is getting the mail. Beau has been reffing for Provo City basketball and should be starting work with the census soon administering surveys to the Russian American population.

Hm, no pictures for this one? Let's pick a random one from the archives of my computer.

Scrawny newborn Carson.

CHRISTMAS.

I get a big fat FAIL for not taking very many pictures over Christmas break.

BOTH of our parents came to Utah this year, so we got to see lots of family.

My trainer was out of town for a few days, so the first half of my break was spent mostly at the barn. Nothing like feeding and mucking out stalls on Christmas morning. Meant to take a photo there. Didn't happen.

Christmas morning was hilarious- so much more fun when there are little kids super excited to play with new toys. And my mom made the craziest pajamas for the kiddies. All Carson needs is a couple gold chains and his Halloween pimp costume is set.


Christmas afternoon we went to Alyse's house and hung out and saw Avatar in 3D. Note Beau's new Christmas sweater.

Okay, I don't get why people are saying how amazing this movie is. The visual effects are fantastic, especially in 3D, but the plot was terribly predictable and, as a friend pointed out, already done in Fern Gully. And Pocahontas. As documented here.

We went on a few field trips- like the Bean Museum (pictured), Jumpin Jax, and everyone came to see the horses while I was working.


Baby Cooper was blessed the Sunday after Christmas. Isn't he darling? I hope my babies have hair. Oh wait, but I'm a Dickson.


Me and Martha are BFFL. Her brother lives in SLC and she was visiting for the holidays.



And in between working at the barn, skiing, and playing with kids we painted our apartment! We're not quite done, so I'll put up pictures when we're all finished.

And this paint really is yellow, but the flash made it look otherwise...